Ski pole



Feb 3, `1953 R. F. WHEELER ET AL. 2,627,420

SKI POLE Filed April 27. 1949 :inventors 2,07@ l? /V/leele/4 JosepPatented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES SKI POLE Application April 27, 1949,Serial No. 89,864

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to ski poles, and particularly to saidpoles having an easily assembled grip, wrist strap and snow ringthereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grip and wrist strapof simple construction which may be easily assembled and secured to theshaft of the pole.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the grip which maybe a unitary molded structure of relatively sti, resilient material maybe placed in position and the wrist strap thereafter secured to the polewithin the grip to project from the grip and hold the grip in assembledposition on the shaft with the fastening means for the strap beingaccessible from the exterior of the grip.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of indiciameans on the grip whereby the poles may be identified.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the novel means foradjusting the size of the loop of the wrist strap.

A further feature of the invention resides in the arrangement whereby astepped shaft is employed with a cylindrical upper end and lower end andthe grip and ring detachably secured to the upper and lower cylindricalportions.

Another feature of the invention resides in the ring in which filletsare employed between the spokes and hub and the spokes and rim toprovide strength for the rubber of the ring at these points.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thespecification and claims when considered in connection with the drawingsin which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a ski pole of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the grip.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional View of the grip with the strap in position,with the shaft and strap partly broken away.

Fig. 4 is a top View of the grip.

Fig. 5 is a view of the upper part of the grip looking at thestrap-receiving aperture.

Fig. y6 is a plan view of the ring with the shaft in section.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ring shaft and itsfastening means.

Fig. 8 shows a fragmentary View of another Adjacent the lower end, theshaft is r PATENT OFFICE provided with a snow ring I3. As will bedescribed the grip and ring are readily and detachably secured to theshaft.

While the shaft may be of any desired construction, it is hereinillustrated in Fig, l as a hollow tubular metal shaft having a pluralityof cylindrical portions of gradually reduced diameter progressing fromthe largest diameter at the top of the pole to the smallest diameteradjacent the bottom of the pole. The upper end is closed as by pluglila, to provide a means for securing strap l2 thereto as will bedescribed.

As shown in Fig, 2, the grip is provided with a cylindricalshaft-receiving bore I4 in one end adapted to snugly receive the end ofthe shaft. The bore terminates, adjacent the closed top I5 of the grip,in a strap-receiving recess I6. The strap-receiving recess merges withthe opening or strap-receiving passage I1 in the side of the grip. Thegrip, as shown in Fig. l, has its outer surface shaped to provide acomfortable and eincient hand grip and may be made in various ways andof various materials. In the herein illustrated form of the invention itis formed as a molded grip which can be molded in one piece or inseveral pieces and the several pieces secured together into a singleunit, and such constructions are embraced within the term unitary gripmember used throughout.

When a molded grip is used it is preferred 130 form it from a relativelystiff, resilient compound of either natural or synthetic rubber ormixtures thereof which will provide a rm cushioned grip. However, sincethe grip does not rely upon its resiliency or stretchability for itsassembly and installation on the shaft it can be molded from othersuitable grip materials such as :any of the well-known resin handlematerials capable of being molded and providing a satisfactory weatherresistant, rugged hand grip.

The wrist strap comprises a flexible strap I8, as shown in Fig. 3,formed into a loop and secured. to the shaft so as to project from thehand grip. it is herein illustrated as having a twist ltherein resultingin an open loop to facilitate the insertion of the hand therethrough.While the strap may be secured to the shaft in many ways it is atpresent preferred to provide the strap with apertured portions I8a, I8bwhich are superposed and inserted into the grip through thestrap-receiving passage Il and into the strapreceiving recess I6 in thegrip so that selected apertures in the strap overlie the end portion ofthe shaft to which they are secured by any suitable fastening means. Inthe herein illustrated form of the invention the walls of the recess I6are formed so that they closely embrace the inserted strap portions andhold them in proper position over the end of the shaft, while thefastening means is being put in place. It will be noted that the strap,when secured in position in the grip will hold the grip in assembledrelation on the shaft.

While the fastening means may take many forms, it is at presentpreferred to make i-t readily detachable so that the straps and gripscan be easily removed and replaced. This is accomplished by means of abolt I9 which is passed through apertures Z, 2i in the superposed strapportions i 8a, 18h and threaded into a tapped hole 22 in plug Itasecured in the end of the hollow shaft. The bolt has an enlarged headoverlying the strap and when screwed down tightly clamps the strap tothe end of the shaft.

In order to afford access to the fastening means from the exterior ofthe grip, the end I5 of the grip is provided with a passage 23 whichopens on the fastening means so that after the strap has been put intoplace in the recess I6 access can be had to the fastening means tosecure it in position. The passage is preferably large enough to permitthe bolt to be passed therethrough and through the apertures in thewrist strap and into the hole 22 in the plug and is of suicient size topermit a tool, such as a screw driver or the like, to be inserted todrive the bolt home.

While the passage 23 may be left open, it is at present preferred toclose it to prevent snow and ice from being packed therein andpreventing easy access to the fastening means. This is accomplished by aclosure therefor in the form of a detachable plug 24. As will be seen inFig. 2 the passage is provided with an undercut 25 in the walls thereofspaced inwardly of the outer end of the passage and the plug 24 isprovided with a rim portion 24a. to be snapped intoV the undercut tointerlock therewith and in effect seal the passage closed.

In addition to closing the passage, the plug may be provided withindicia 24h such as an initial, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the owner ofthe pole may readily identify the pole. Also, from a rnerchandizingstandpoint, a plug having indicia indicating the length of the pole maybe inser-ted therein to enable the clerk to readily select the desiredlength and when the pole is sold, the plug having the length indiciathereon can readily be snapped out of the undercut and a plug with aninitial or other indicia, thereon inserted.

The present invention provides a novel means for adjusting the size ofthe loop without the use of buckles or other fastening devices. In theform of the invention shown in Fig. 3, each end 18a, Ib of the strap isprovided with a plurality of apertures 20, Zta and 2 i, 2m which arespaced longitudinally along the strap. The apertures 2b, 2l and 20a, 2idare aligned and may be reinforced and the superposed portions of thestrap secured together by single eyelets 26 and 2l passing therethrough.If a large loop is desired the fastening means is passed through eyelet2S and if a smaller loop is required the fastening means is passedthrough the eyelet 2 and secured to the shaft, the end of the straphaving eyelet 26 being cut on if necessary. In this manner the desiredsize of the loop can be readily obtained.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the end I8@ is providedwith apertures 20, 2da, 2Gb, Zlio and end Ib provided with an aperture2|, each aperture being reinforced with an individual eyelet. Byselectively aligning apertures 20, 20a, 20h and 20c with 2| and securingthe selected apertures to the shaft the size of the loop in the strapcan be regulated and adjusted.

As is clear from Figs. 1 and 3, the strap is positively held at a properangle with respect to the grip for easy access by the user of the pole.This is accomplished by the walls of the passage il which extendsthrough a thickened portion of the grip downwardly and outwardly fromthe end of the pole and provide guide surfaces fia, Hb which engage andguide the strap as it emerges from the grip.

The snow ring is detachably secured to the shaft, as shown in Figs. Sand '7, and comprises a rubber annulus 23 connected to a rubber hub 29by rubber spokes. The annulus and hub are of the same thickness and thering is detaohably secured to the shaft by means of the hub. This isaccomplished by providing a cylindrical sleeve 3l with a flange 32 onthe lower end of the pole and putting a washer 33 on the lower surfaceof the hub and passing a cotter pin Sli through apertures in the ange,hub and washer.

As is shown in Fig. 6, each spoke is connected to the ring by sidefillets 35 which provide for a long connection therebetween. Also theadjacent spokes are connected together adjacent the hub by fillets 35 sothat the ring is stabilized in its action and reinforced in itsoperation.

Thus it will be seen that not only is the grip and wrist strap readilydetachable from the shaft but the snow ring is also similarly detachableso that if it is desired to change the grips, wrist straps and rings ona pole this may be easily accomplished. This is an advantage wherecolored grips and rings are provided and it is desired to producerequired colors or color combinations.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of thisinvention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a wrist strap having portions thereofengaging the end of the shaft; a fastening device passing through thestrap and longitudinally into the shaft to directly clamp the strap tothe end of the shaft; and a molded unitary grip of unstretchablematerial enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaftand shaped to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip overlying theclamping end of the fastening device and being free of clamping pressureof the fastening device and having a strap-receiving opening thereinthrough which the wrist strap extends and a passage therethrough openingon the fastening means to afford access thereto from the exterior of thegrip.

2. A ski pcie comprising a shaft; wrist strap comprising a loop havingoverlapped portions, overlapped portions having longitudinally spacedapertures therein, and axially extending fastener means passing throughselected apertures overlying the end of the shaft and into the shaft todirectly clamp the strap to the shaft and provide a loop of the requiredsize; and a molded unitary grip enclosing the end of the shaft andextending along the shaft and shaped to provide grip thereon. said gripoverlying the clamping end of the fastening device free of clampingrelation therewith and having a strap-receiving opening therein throughwhich the wrist strap extends and a passage therethrough opening on thefastening means to afford access thereto from the exterior of the grip.

3. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a wrist strap having superposedportions overlying the end of the shaft; a fastening device passingthrough the superposed portions of the strapoverlying the end of theshaft and into the shaft to secure the strap to the shaft; and a moldedunitary grip having a shaft-receiving bore slidable over and enclosingthe end of the shaft and extending along the shaft to provide a handgrip thereon, said grip having a strap-receiving passage therein throughwhich the wrist strap extends and a passage in the closed end of thegrip in alignment with the fastening means to enable the fasteningdevice to be passed co-mpletely therethrough and out of clampingrelation with said grip and into position to directly clamp the strap tothe shaft after the grip has been placed on the shaft.

4. A ski pole comprising a hollow shaft having a plug secured in the endthereof; a wrist strap overlying the plugged end of the shaft; a headedfastening device passing through the strap and into the plug in theshaft to directly clamp the strap to the shaft; and a molded, one-piecegrip adapted to be slipped yover the shaft and having a closed endenclosing the plugged end of the shaft and a tubular body extendingalong the shaft to provide a hand grip thereon, said grip being free ofclamping action by the fastening means and having an aperture thereinthrough which the end of the wrist strap is inserted to overlie the endof the shaft and a passage `in the closed end of the grip in alignmentwith the fastening means to enable the fastening device to be passedcompletely therethrough and out Aof clamping relation with said grip andinto position and secured therein after the grip has been placed on theshaft.

5. A ski pole comprising a shaft having a closed end; a wrist straphaving an apertured portion; a threaded fastening device passing throughan aperture in the strap and threaded into a hole in the closed end ofthe shaft to secure the apertured portion of the strap thereto; a moldedgrip enclosing the end of the shaft and extending along the shaft toprovide a hand grip thereon, said grip having a strap-receiving passagetherein through which the wrist strap extends and a passage therein inalignment with the apertures and the hole in the shaft and of a size toenable the fastening device to be passed completely through the grip outof clamping relation with said grip, into the apertures in the strap,and into the hole and to receive a tool to actuate the fastening deviceto secure the strap within the grip independently of said grip.

6. A ski pole comprising a shaft; a Wrist strap having the ends thereofengaging the end of the shaft; a fastening device passing through theendsof the strap and axially into the end of the shaft to directlysecure the strap thereto; and a molded grip enclosing the end of theshaft and extending along the shaft and shaped to provide a hand gripthereon, said grip overlying the end of the fastening device and beingfree of the fastening device and having a strap-receiving recessdirectly above the end of the shaft to house the ends of the strap, saidrecess merging with an opening in the side of the grip through which thewrist strap extends, said grip having a passage in the end opening intothe recess over the fastening means to afford access thereto from theexterior of the grip.

7. As an article of manufacture, a molded handle grip to be assembled ona shaft, said grip being composed solely of resilient material andhaving an internal bore to receive the end of a shaft when the grip isassembled thereon, said grip being formed with a strap-receiving recessextending inwardly from its side face at a position to permit the strapto overlie the end face of the shaft, and also formed with a passageopening in the end face of the grip and extending inwardly andintersecting the strap-receiving recess, said passage providing anopening large enough -to permit the strap-fastening means to passcompletely therethrough and out of clamping relation with said grip andinto direct strapfastening relation after the grip has been placed onthe shaft whereby the grip is free of any clamping action of saidfastening device.

RALPH F. WHEELER. JOSEPH K. PRESTON. JOSEPH K. WEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,017,565 Lard Feb. 13, 19121,139,843 Brown May 18, 1915 1,535,719 Fisher Apr. 2B, 1925 `2,208,365Gerber July 16, 1940 2,347,789 Nichols May 2, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 111,379 Switzerland Aug. 17, 1925 152,516Switzerland 1932 558,814 Germany 1932 636,187 Germany 1936

